Smoke-filled sky over Cleveland, Shepherd the result of prescribed burn

Staff Report

Published 10:38 am, Thursday, February 11, 2016

Photo: Vanesa Brashier

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Smoke fills the Sam Houston National Forest south of Coldspring on FM 2025. A prescribed burn is under way to remove fuel from the ground that could lead to a forest fire.

Smoke fills the Sam Houston National Forest south of Coldspring on FM 2025. A prescribed burn is under way to remove fuel from the ground that could lead to a forest fire.

Photo: Vanesa Brashier

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The ground is charred in several locations of the Sam Houston National Forest south of Coldspring on FM 2025 where a prescribed burn is under way.

The ground is charred in several locations of the Sam Houston National Forest south of Coldspring on FM 2025 where a prescribed burn is under way.

Photo: Vanesa Brashier

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A road block warning of a prescribed burn is set up off of Big Creek Scenic Loop in the Sam Houston National Forest Thursday.

A road block warning of a prescribed burn is set up off of Big Creek Scenic Loop in the Sam Houston National Forest Thursday.

Photo: Vanesa Brashier

Smoke-filled sky over Cleveland, Shepherd the result of prescribed burn

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The U.S. Forest Service is conducting prescribed burns in the Sam Houston National Forest south of Coldspring. The result of the burning brush is a heavy amount of smoke that trailed southwest toward Cleveland and Shepherd Thursday.

The forest service is trying to reduce the wildfire risk by burning potential fuel sources on the ground in a controlled manner.

“We have more burns planned for that area. We are just getting started for the year,” said Jason Klawinsky with the U.S. Forest Service. “Every day is a possible burn day because it’s dependant on weather conditions. If it’s too dry, then we can’t burn and if it’s too wet, it won’t burn.”

The forest service is trying to do a fuel reduction on approximately 35,000-40,000 acres in the Sam Houston National Forest, which is spread over three counties — San Jacinto, Walker and Montgomery.